UN chief to scale back operations in Gaza after ceasefire collapses

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has announced that the United Nations will reduce its presence inside Gaza following the breakdown of a ceasefire, which has seen a surge in violence. 

Guterres expressed deep concern over the escalating humanitarian crisis, noting that Israel's strikes on Gaza have led to significant civilian casualties, including the deaths of UN personnel, Caliber.Az reports citing the organization.

"In the past week, Israel carried out devastating strikes on Gaza, claiming the lives of hundreds of civilians, including United Nations personnel, with no humanitarian aid being allowed to enter the Strip since early March,” stated a report released by his spokesperson.

“As a result, the Secretary-General has taken the difficult decision to reduce the Organization’s footprint in Gaza, even as humanitarian needs soar and our concern over the protection of civilians intensifies.”

Despite this decision, the UN remains committed to providing lifesaving aid, although around a third of the approximately 100 international staff working in Gaza will be temporarily relocated.

The suspension of humanitarian aid to Gaza, which has lasted three weeks—its longest period since October 7, 2023—has coincided with Israeli officials' announcements that they will continue their military campaign across Gaza and aim to annex territory to exert pressure on Hamas.

On March 19, a UN compound in Deir Al Balah was struck, allegedly by an Israeli tank. The UN spokesperson confirmed that the strike resulted in the death of a UN colleague from Bulgaria and left six others severely injured. Among the injured were individuals from France, Moldova, North Macedonia, Palestine, and the United Kingdom. The compound's location was well known to all parties involved in the conflict.

“The strikes claimed the life of a UN colleague from Bulgaria and left six others – from France, Moldova, North Macedonia, Palestine and the United Kingdom – with severe injuries, some of them life-altering,” the spokesperson said. “I reiterate that all parties to the conflict are bound by international law to protect the absolute inviolability of UN premises.”

The UN has called for a full, independent investigation into the deadly attack on its compound. It also reiterated its demand for the protection of all civilian lives amid the ongoing fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas, along with the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.

The UN’s humanitarian agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA, has reported that 124,000 people in Gaza have been displaced due to “relentless bombardment.” Jonathan Whittall, the senior UN humanitarian official in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, confirmed that hundreds of children and adults have been killed since the ceasefire broke down.

“Families carry what little they have with no shelter, no safety, and nowhere left to go; the Israeli authorities have cut off all aid,” UNRWA stated, adding that food is scarce and prices are soaring as the Israeli blockade continues.

Health workers in Gaza have also been targeted, with ambulances and hospitals coming under attack. Senior UN official Tom Fletcher expressed concern over the ongoing strikes on medical facilities and personnel, tweeting that "we all must demand that hospitals and medics must not be targeted." On Sunday, the surgical department of the Nasser Medical Complex in southern Gaza was hit by a strike, resulting in casualties and a fire.

Reports also indicate that several ambulances were hit in Rafah, causing casualties among the teams. The Palestine Red Crescent Society reported that four of its ambulances were targeted, and 10 of its team members were injured. Communication with the affected team members was lost for over 30 hours, and their fate remains unknown.

With the humanitarian situation worsening, the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has called for additional emergency medical teams to assist exhausted local health workers. The teams are crucial as the conflict continues to overwhelm Gaza's already strained healthcare system.

Meanwhile, Israeli authorities have issued new evacuation orders in Rafah, affecting five neighbourhoods. This brings the total area of evacuation directives to approximately 14 percent of the Gaza Strip, alongside vast “no-go” zones along the borders and the Netzarim corridor.

By Vafa Guliyeva